Rebekah Markillie - Podcast Details

Shows

Roots of ChangeEpisode 08: Pleasure is the fuel for a feminist business with Lauren ElizabethIs it contradictory to be anti-capitalist and own a business? Some would say absolutely not — it just requires nuance and holding the “and also.” In this week’s episode, Rebekah is joined by Lauren Elizabeth, a feminist business mentor, to talk about pleasure, feminist business practices, and how our businesses can be a tool for community care and community change. Find Lauren Elizabeth online: Website | Instagram | Newsletter Find Rebekah online: Instagram | Blog | Newsletter Links to things discussed in the episode: - "Pleasure is fuel" from Rashida KhanBey Miller and The Messy Movement Lab ...2022-01-1856 min

Roots of ChangeEpisode 07: Mutual aid, "free" groups, and other acts of revolutionary exchangeThe rise of the Facebook "Buy Nothing Groups" and mutual aid networks stem from our collective yearning for a different mode of exchange — one that isn't tainted by the extractive model of capitalism. This week Rebekah is joined by guest Jayme Rabenberg to talk about gift-giving, how our thoughts and beliefs about exchange reflect our values, and how we can start to "lose less from capitalism." Find Rebekah elsewhere on the Internet: Instagram | Blog | Newsletter --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/roots-of-change/support 2022-01-1150 min

Roots of ChangeEpisode 06: Conflict doesn't need to be disruptive, scary or overwhelmingConflict creates a wide array of responses. This is because we often experience conflict as a threat. But it doesn't need to be this way. In this episode of Roots of Change, Rebekah explores how conflict can be the invitation for transformation, for liberation. Sign up for my newsletter, Pending Revolution, here! Find Rebekah elsewhere on the Internet: Instagram | Blog | Newsletter Links to things discussed in the episode: - "The Politics of Trauma" by Staci K. Haines - "Conflict replicates abuse" concept by Wagatwe Wanjuki --- Support this podcast: https...2022-01-0429 min

Roots of Change(BONUS) Episode 05: Essential Reading for Unlearning Capitalism in 2021Books are for learning, books are for dreaming. Unlearning the ways capitalism has impacted our world is essential to building a future where we are free. In this bonus episode of Roots of Change, Rebekah share her essential reading from the past 12 months. It's an unconventional list, but there is a theme: unlearning capitalism. Here are the reading recommendations: - Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner - Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer - White Magic by Elissa Washuta - Milk Blood Heat by Dantiel W Moniz (Listen to Dantiel read: B...2021-12-3132 min

Roots of ChangeEpisode 04: Here's why we can't solve homelessness — and how we canThe refrain "housing is a human right" has become an important position on the Left. It's been adopted as an official part of the Democratic Party Platform — but homelessness is only getting worse. So what gives? In this week's episode of Roots of Change, Rebekah lore dumps about housing commodification and shows how we aren't going to be able to solve homelessness unless we fundamentally change how we think about housing. Sign up for An Orbit Around The Sun: https://www.coachingforus.com/orbit Find Rebekah elsewhere on the Internet: Instagram | Blog | Newsletter Li...2021-12-1429 min

Roots of ChangeEpisode 03: Anti-Oppression Limiting Beliefs with Fern WileyOne of the most powerful tools in coaching is working through internal blocks — some of the ways we get in our own way of taking action. In this episode, Rebekah and guest coach, Fern Wiley, talk about limiting beliefs, how they impact anti-oppression and liberation work, and some coaching questions you can ask yourself when you uncover a limiting belief. Sign-ups for Fern & Rebekah's new coaching workshop series An Orbit Around The Sun are open now. Learn more about the series and sign up, here! Find Fern Wiley elsewhere on the internet: Instagram | Website ...2021-12-0840 min

Roots of ChangeEpisode 02: Is the Internet Making Us Worse At Creating Social Change?Social media has wholly transformed how we foster connections and social relationships. While it does let us talk to friends and dear ones across distance, it also leans on capitalistic values that prioritize quantity over quality. In this episode of Roots of Change, Rebekah discusses Ian Bogost's essay “People Aren’t Meant to Talk This Much” and draws on popular critique to push back against "microwavable activism on social media" to see where we still uphold capitalistic values in the ways we use social media platforms and participate in social movements. Find Rebekah elsewhere on the...2021-11-3024 min

Red Thread PublishingLearn from 20-leading industry experts about Writing, Publishing & Book Marketing So you want to write & publish a successful book…! Feat: Tami Palmer “Anatomy presents the art and craft of creating a book by offering glimpses into the lived experience of each contributor.” -Kevin Hesse, author of upcoming, Love and Light in a World of Loss Learn from 20-leading industry experts about Writing, Publishing & Book Marketing. Let us simplify what can be a complicated and overwhelming process. This book will lay it all in easy-to-understand chapters, so you have the tools for success. Get your copy n...2021-11-2426 min

Roots of ChangeEpisode 01: Not Your College Roommate's SJW Study GroupWhen the world erupted during the George Floyd Uprisings, organizers and activists were fired up. They mobilized the largest protest movement of our lifetime. But over a year later, we are now wrestling with what's changed? In the inaugural episode of Roots of Change, host Rebekah Markillie explains how liberatory coaching can support the many movements for justice and liberation by examining the ways we are still invested in the systems that harm us. Find Rebekah elsewhere on the Internet: Instagram | Blog | Newsletter Links to things discussed in the e...2021-11-2331 min

Roots of ChangeRoots of Change TrailerRoots of Change is a *new* weekly podcast about liberation and anti-oppression work hosted by liberatory coach and tenant organizer Rebekah Markillie. In this podcast, Rebekah and guests will talk about how we get in the way of our own liberation through believing the lies our oppressors tell us, through our unhealed trauma, and the regular pressures of our lives. New episodes release on Tuesdays. Find more of Rebekah on the internet: Instagram | Blog | Newsletter --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/roots-of-change/support 2021-11-1603 min

Motion Picture Pals43: Dune (2021)To talk about Dune is to dissect the complex layers of Frank Herbert’s worldbuilding and storytelling, famously considered difficult to adapt for film simply because of its grand scope. Fortunately, Denis Villeneuve’s take on the first half of the story is an immersive cinematic experience that just washes over you like a sandstorm. We were enamored by the theatricality of it all, from the extravagant costumes to the scale of the action set pieces, particularly in IMAX format. We had plenty to discuss in terms of book lore and we obtain clarity on some details, but...2021-10-281h 58

Motion Picture Pals42: No Time To Die (2021)No Time To Die features Rami Malek as a classical Bond villain out to destroy the world, but it’s merely the set dressing. At its core, the final entry in Daniel Craig’s Bond’s arc is a dramatic story about the passage of time and the inescapable nature of James Bond’s work. He’s no longer 007. His grueling career has taken a heavy toll on him. But one final time, he’s pulled back into spy work to protect his loved ones. The stakes have never been higher in a Bond movie, and director Cary Fukunaga really maxim...2021-10-252h 10

Motion Picture Pals41: Spider-Man 2 (2004)We’re nostalgic for Spider-Man 2 for a multitude of reasons: Sam Raimi’s signature camp-infused humor, wild action with a splash of horror, and a poignant emotional core all make the second Spider-film a timeless classic. The vertical fight choreography! The crazy camera angles! The large Italian man on the train!! For a 17 year old film, it sure feels like Raimi set a gold standard for superhero films that has yet to be topped. With the MCU teasing the return of Alfred Molina’s Doc Ock (and potentially more), it’s not a bad idea to break out the pizza for a no...2021-09-151h 34

Motion Picture Pals40: Pig (2021)Nicholas Cage’s pig has been kidnapped, and it’s up to him and a fail-son entrepreneur to team up and get her back. But this isn’t just another revenge film. It’s not really a revenge film at all, in fact we’re not really sure what it is. One thing we could all agree on was that Pig is a confusing watch, but not necessarily a bad one. If you’re going into Pig blind, do so with an open mind and add some extra flexibility to your expectations. In the end it’s a matter of taste, in m...2021-08-311h 27

Motion Picture Pals39: The Green Knight (2021)We’re back to the movie house, which means you have to strategize your piss timing or suffer in silence. It’s a new A24 film, baby! It’s directed by podcast favorite A Ghost Story’s David Lowery! Is it any good? Much like Dev Patel’s Sir Gawain, you won’t know until you dive into the episode like a big, red lake. But what’s in it for you? Well, The Green Knight is a weird one, a modern twist on the fantasy genre, where nothing plays out the way you think it will. Unless you’ve seen The Kill...2021-08-191h 35

Motion Picture Pals38: Twilight (2008)The Twilight movies are up on Netflix, so let’s revisit the infamous franchise that defined a genre, spawned numerous memes, and sent ripples of change through the film industry that remain felt today. Made for a mere $37M, Twilight earned a box office total of over $400M, emphasizing the idea that adapting something already popular was a more reliable strategy than taking a chance on an original idea. In this episode we look at the history of this objectively bad film and discuss how it succeeded despite its numerous, hilarious flaws. Motion Picture Pals is hosted by...2021-08-031h 32

Motion Picture Pals37: The Lighthouse (2019)Two guys become awkward roommates in this buddy comedy about a lighthouse keeper and his new lighthouse keeper assistant. But then spooky stuff starts happening, and now we must ask ourselves: is this shit real, or is it a dream? One of these guys is insane, right? But which one? What is Lovecraftian horror? What is Gothic horror? What is a dream? What is a nightmare? What was this about? How did they get a big glass lens to the top of a lighthouse back in the day? Why do we analyze film? Motion Picture Pals is...2021-07-241h 09

Motion Picture Pals36: Nomadland (2020)Nomadland wants to make one thing very clear: capitalism destroys people’s lives. We enjoyed Nomadland for its masterful visual storytelling but mostly for its poignant message and relevancy. Though the adapted story is one of the year 2011, its topics of wealth inequality and America’s homelessness crisis remain sadly relevant. We’re still grappling with the Coronavirus pandemic and an economic catastrophe. With eviction moratoriums set to expire while the government shows little compassion for its people, those left in poverty during a pandemic are now faced with homelessness. Nomadland feels increasingly not like an alternative lifestyle, but an imm...2021-06-221h 05

Motion Picture Pals35: Sound of Metal (2020)Sound of Metal is a brutal depiction of grief endured by a metal drummer, played by Riz Ahmed, who suddenly loses his hearing. Ruben moves into a shelter for deaf, recovering addicts, and sells his RV to raise the money needed for pay for a cochlear implants operation. This ultimately puts him at odds with Joe, who runs the shelter and believes deafness is not a handicap that does not need to be fixed. We found Sound of Metal to be a thoughtful depiction of its subject material, and explored the praises and criticisms members of the deaf community...2021-05-261h 26

Motion Picture Pals34: Concrete Cowboy (2020)Concrete Cowboy is a coming of age story about Black cowboys, not in the wild west but in north Philadelphia. 15-year-old Cole is taken to live with his estranged father Harp, and introduced to his close-knit urban horse riding community. Cole searches for acceptance and splits time between his distant father and his childhood friend Smush, who aspires to buy a ranch out west, but goes down a dangerous path to fund his dream. Concrete Cowboy is a great introduction for the uninitiated to the Fletcher Street cowboys - the real group of Philadelphia based horse riders...2021-04-281h 09

Motion Picture Pals33: Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)Zack Snyder’s Justice League is an anomaly in many ways, and the story of how this once fabled director’s cut came about is worthy of a movie itself. But how does the film itself stack up? It depends on your level of interest and knowledge of the comic book worlds it’s citing. Snyder’s take on superheroes has been divisive since Man of Steel, alienating those who just came out to have a good time and were uninterested in the internal struggles of Superman, and the politics of a world in which he exists. It’s tho...2021-04-132h 03

Motion Picture Pals32: Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)Ohoho what’s this? A new release? You better believe it, buster. We’ve tightened up our supply chains and we’ve vertically integrated in order to deliver our takes from the Hollow Earth directly into your earholes in 5-7 business days or your money back, guaranteed. That said, you might be wondering “Hey, what’s your take on Godzilla vs. Kong?” Well, I’m so glad you asked. Some of us liked it and some of us didn’t. We have all sorts of reasons for this, but we all agreed that it wasn’t very good in spite of h...2021-04-061h 27

Motion Picture Pals31: War of the Worlds (2005)We close out the month with the conclusion to our Cruise / Spielberg double feature, War of the Worlds. It’s a decidedly post 9/11 film featuring a classic Spielbergian family with a divorced dad, rage fueled adolescent son, and an increasingly traumatized young daughter. Spielberg portrays the scope and damage of a global alien invasion with a seamless blend of CGI tripods and practical destruction that still looks great 16 years later. The US military is aggressively present in this film, with Tom Cruise’s son Robbie hell bent on joining the troops despite their inability to put up much of a fi...2021-03-301h 27

Motion Picture Pals30: Minority Report (2002)Minority Report contains multitudes. On one hand, it depicts a dystopian, Cyberpunk-Esque future America with an even more powerful police state. On the other hand, there are slapstick scenes that would be at home in an episode of The Three Stooges, of people puking on one another’s faces and women walking around folded up in weird yoga poses. The real beauty of the film is that it manages to strike a balance between these elements and provide a fun and engaging watch through the length of its formidable two-and-a-half-hour runtime. There’s plenty to love in this...2021-03-021h 24

Motion Picture Pals29: Kong: Skull Island (2017)Kong: Skull Island slipped under the radar for a lot of folks, this podcast included. Whether people were feeling disappointed by the “Monsterverse’s” inaugural Godzilla (2014), or simply uninterested in another movie about big monkee, it’s a real shame because Kong: Skull Island is a real gem of an action movie. In many ways it’s the opposite of 2014’s Godzilla - funny, self-aware, fast-paced, and full of the actual monsters, presumably what you’re here for in the first place. Even the human element, a frequent point of criticism in the Godzilla films, is a delight this t...2021-02-171h 41

Motion Picture Pals28: Ratatouille (2007)The dead whisper through time and space. They speak to a rodent, driven by pure ambition, rejecting its assignment as a bottom feeder of humanity’s filth. Rather, it will infiltrate their world. It assimilates into a culture of fine dining and western cuisine, a parasite in the body of the naïve. Like itself, the man desires to thrive. But the rat seizes his being, a coup d’état of the body, control wrested from less fortunate to least fortunate, and the rat ascends. Motion Picture Pals is co-hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, and producer Travis...2021-02-041h 20

Motion Picture Pals27: Vivarium (2019)Cucks, large adult sons, parasitic super-organisms: Vivarium has it all! Lorcan Finnegan’s surreal take on modern horror was one that we liked overall, even if some of us were underwhelmed by the ending. Trying to solve the mystery of The Boy/Martin was a definite highlight, especially unpacking the ways in which the story incorporates Irish folklore and real-world biology. The story wraps up like an old episode of the Twilight Zone, which could be good or bad depending on which of us you ask. The art direction and set design also stood out, as did the performances an...2021-01-201h 25

Motion Picture Pals26: White God (2014)White God opens on an eerie, apocalyptic scene. The streets of Budapest are empty, and a lone girl bikes through the city. Suddenly, dogs. In perhaps the only film to feature 250 real (not CGI) dogs on screen at once, director Kornel Mundruczo weaves together a coming of age story about the strained relationship between a girl and her father with a dark version of Homeward Bound, featuring a live action dog performance as moving as it is realistic. White God might not be everyone’s bowl of dog chow, but we were captured by its surreal ending and its us...2021-01-051h 28

Motion Picture Pals25: Juno (2007)Our final episode of 2020 revisits the classic teen pregnancy film Juno (2007), starring Elliot Page, who recently came out as trans. With this in mind, we explore the gender dynamics of a film about pregnancy, in which the pregnant character is played by a man. This film came out when we were teens and sparks memories about our music taste and wanting to be hip like Juno. Now on the other side of high school, this viewing illuminated new perspectives and complexities we didn’t fully understand before. If you take nothing else away from this episode, just know that yo...2020-12-231h 29

Motion Picture Pals24: Blade Runner (1982)Ridley Scott takes us on yet another journey into the distant future (2019) with all the neon and yellow peril we’ve come to expect from the 1980s. In the future, people are governed by megacorporations, cops have exclusive access to advanced technology, and advertising is downright invasive; it’s a good thing we managed to avoid all that. In this episode, we are joined once again by Caleb Warwick where we discuss the moral and philosophical themes in what is perhaps the seminal film in the cyberpunk genre. We share stories about targeted advertising and get in our...2020-12-082h 07

Motion Picture Pals23: The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)Y, Yorgos? Y? It’s a Greek tragedy! It’s magical realism! It’s horror!The Killing of a Sacred Deer is our second entry from Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos (see Episode 8: The Favourite) and, once again, proves to be a controversial one. In fact, Rebekah didn’t even finish this one, which is either a testament to her inability to deal with suspense or a masterful use of discomfort in filmmaking, depending on who you ask. We all liked this movie to varying degrees and for different reasons. Overall, we were into the performances and cine...2020-11-251h 13

Motion Picture Pals22: The Village (2004)Spoilers for The Village are present in this episode, as well as M. Night Shaymalan classics The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Signs. Don’t get mad. To say The Village is a complex film to discuss would be an understatement. A relic of 2004, when the Iraq War was in full swing and everyone was looking forward to the next big M. Night Shyamalan movie, The Village was marketed incorrectly as a horror movie, and expectations were high following previous Shyamalan hits The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Signs. The film failed to live up to popular expectations, and ki...2020-11-111h 24

Motion Picture Pals21: The Witch (2015)Like a witch inviting young children to their hut, we invite you, dear listener, to join us for a spooky Halloween/Election Day bonus episode on Robert Eggers’ 2015 feature debut, The Witch: A New England Folktale. Set in the early 1600s, a family of Puritans is forced to leave their community and live in the wilds of the untamed forest where a tragedy and subsequent horrors foster deceit and suspicion within the family. “The VVitch,” as it’s famously stylized, explores the dissonance between civilization and nature, religion and freedom. We explored the idea of predestination as a theme...2020-11-031h 17

Motion Picture Pals20: Her (2013)"I think anybody who [records a podcast] is a freak. It's a crazy thing to do. It's kind of like a form of socially acceptable insanity." Sentient AI is a mainstay of science fiction, and movies have always been fascinated by the question of what a computer would do if it were truly capable of making its own decisions. Would it enslave us all, a la the Machines from The Matrix? Would it initiate nuclear war like Skynet? Perhaps it would ruthlessly complete its mission at any cost like HAL9000. 2013’s Her instead suggests that hyperintelligent AIs wo...2020-10-281h 20

Motion Picture Pals19: Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)Boggis and Bunce and Bean, One fat, one short, one lean. These horrible crooks, so different in looks. Were nonetheless equally mean. In a valley somewhere in the anglophone world, a community of animals exists parallel to humans. These wild animals attend science class, publish newspapers, and pay mortgages. In this episode of Motion Picture Pals, we discuss Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009). Based on the novel by Roald Dahl, Director Wes Anderson brings his iconic auteur vision to stop-motion animation. The story follows Mr. Fox (voiced by George Clooney) as...2020-10-131h 16

Motion Picture Pals18: A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)In Bad City, a skateboarding vampire roams the streets preying on anyone and everyone - until she meets a very handsome boy who is seemingly too handsome to kill. Director Ana Lily Amirpour pays tribute to her multinational background with a cultural mashup combining churning Iranian oil drills with sprawling American suburbs, all bathed in high contrast monochrome evoking Nosferatu. The result is a dreamy mood piece on loneliness, attraction, and the surprisingly positive virtues of being a Himbo. Travis’s soundtrack playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2zwhb1lyMmdlW7yMNALrb6 Motion Picture Pals is co...2020-09-251h 11

Motion Picture Pals17: Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)To survive in the wastes of a post-apocalyptic Australian desert you need to be mad, borderline feral — or at least have a kitted out War Rig, a cab full of guns, and your hopes set on the idyllic “green place” from your childhood memories. Mad Max Fury Road (2015) is the fourth installment of George Miller’s action film franchise, Mad Max, starring Tom Hardy as Max and Charlize Theron as Imperator Furiosa in an unlikely partnership and epic car chase across the desert. In this episode of Motion Picture Pals, we talk about what makes this fil...2020-09-081h 36

Motion Picture Pals16: First Cow (2019)As usual, complete spoilers for the film in this discussion. Imagine frontier life in the early days of the Oregon Territory, not a cow in sight and thus not a drop of milk to put in your bread. Kelly Reichardt’s First Cow centers on an unlikely duo aiming to solve this issue: Cookie, an aspiring baker sick of cooking for ungrateful fur trappers, and King-Lu, an entrepreneur from China who maybe(?) killed someone and is on the run from Russians. Together they devise a heist, plotting to steal milk from the only cow in town and bu...2020-08-251h 01

Motion Picture Pals15: Blood Quantum (2019)An interesting spin on the Zombie Apocalypse, Jeff Barnaby’s Blood Quantum confronts an oft-neglected yet central question within the genre: would you ethnically cleanse a refugee camp if you got your dick bitten off? Blood Quantum flips the racial animus of the zombie apocalypse on its head: white people become zombies and First Nations people based on the Mi'kmaq are immune. The film doesn’t stray too far into the Noble Savage stereotype, likely due to its predominantly indigenous cast and crew, and instead provides a grounded look into the realities of life on a reservation and...2020-08-111h 15

Motion Picture Pals14: The First Short Film BonanzaA film podcast, talking about… short films? That’s right, because we’re the smartest and best movies podcast on the internet. We wanted to acknowledge and signal boost that there are other types of films besides theatrical features that are worth watching and discussing, that often go overlooked in the mainstream film part of the internet. Here for your listening pleasure are four individual conversations on short films we tracked down and hand selected. Before you listen to the first ever Motion Picture Pals Short Film Bonanza™ you might wish to watch the lineup of short films we...2020-07-311h 25

Motion Picture Pals13: Alien (1979)You know it, you love it, it's the classic sci-fi horror mashup Alien, not to be confused with Aliens (1986) like at least one of us was. We learned the word "yonic," a companion word to "phallic," a word we end up using a lot in this discussion. And we discuss who the real monster is - is it the Xenomorph, or is it capitalism, the horrors of which are on full display aboard the Nostromo, and more relevant than ever in 2020? We will be holding a short film festival for our next episode. We are not sure...2020-07-131h 16

Motion Picture Pals12: Children of Men (2006)In the midst of medical, ecological, and international crises, the government's main priority is brutalizing immigrants. We dive into the unfortunate parallels between the famously hopeless world of Children of Men and Real Life™️, dissect some fictional propaganda, and establish the Alfonso Cuarón Cinematic Fart Universe. We also talk about art. We are really smart. Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Motion Picture Pals is co-hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Joel Aleman, and producer Travis Lien. Join the podcast Discord to get in on the discussions. Motion Picture Pals...2020-06-251h 39

Motion Picture Pals11: Y Tu Mamá También (2001)Two horny teenage boys meet a hot woman, invent a magical beach, and take her on a zany road trip while an omniscient narrator does his best to bum you out. We talked through Alfonso Cuarón's exploration of being a horny teenager in Mexico while the world around you is in political turmoil, cops are beating the shit out of people, and the specter of death looms around every corner, but all you really care about is getting laid. Also the perils of translating arise as Joel explains a slur that often shows up in the E...2020-06-151h 39

Motion Picture Pals10: The Search for General Tso (2014)Our first discussion wholly committed to a documentary! We all ordered Chinese takeout and ate it while we watched The Search for General Tso. It was very meta, except Joel didn't actually have any General Tso's Chicken. But that's okay, because culture, food, and language are all about adaptation and resilience, and sometimes you have to make do with Panda Express Orange Chicken when you really wanted General Tso's. Join us on our quest to learn about everyone's favorite Not-Exactly-Chinese-And-Not-Exactly-American comfort food, and also why authenticity is bullshit. Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals ...2020-05-251h 21

Motion Picture Pals9: Happy Together (1997)Think about your most volatile relationship, and then imagine it happening in another country and also that you may never get to return home (and also that there are undercurrents of colonialism and national identity). Wong Kar-wai shows us the passion and chaos present in every relationship, and the simultaneous immensity and insignificance of our emotions on the geopolitical stage. We also consider the meaning of the term Queer Cinema and compare this film to a Motion Picture Pals favorite, Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Waterfall metaphors and fun facts about Cam's past abound in this...2020-05-111h 22

Motion Picture Pals8: The Favourite (2018)In the 18th century, rabbits were considered pests and generally despised. In The Favourite, Queen Anne has 17 pet rabbits and two maids, each determined to one-up the other and become the queen's favorite (favourite). The Favourite is a dark comedy and a semi deconstruction of the classic period piece. It favors (favours) whip pans and fisheye lenses and doubles down on anachronisms like 21st century hip-hop dancing in the ballroom. By the end we were left with many questions and thoughts, and a real take you'll hear is that The Favourite is The Green Book of queer cinema. 2020-04-271h 28

Motion Picture Pals7: A Ghost Story (2017)Remember 2017? Truly, it was a simpler time. Things made sense, you could go outside, ghosts were sheets with eye holes in them, and movies could also be squares. Try not to think too hard about all we've lost, and think instead about David Lowery's wonderful movie, A Ghost Story. We all loved this film and were mostly caught by surprise. It's cute, funny, sad, serious, and downright confusing at times, but altogether worth watching. What's the moral of this story, you may ask? The moral is that time doesn't exist and you should listen to your wife...2020-04-131h 24

Motion Picture Pals6: Border (2018)Nordic Noir meets magical realism in Ali Abassi's bleak and atmospheric exploration of Nordic folklore. Border is a wild ride from beginning to end and definitely worth your time if your fragile, delicate psyche can handle a dark film with fairly upsetting themes, a very ambiguous ending at a time when the world may be ending before your very eyes. So if that sounds like you, watch Border! It also has one of the strangest sex scenes any of us have ever seen. Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Motion Picture Pals is co-hosted by Cam...2020-03-3056 min

Motion Picture Pals5: A Silent Voice (2016)Content Warning: this film deals with depression, bullying, and suicide, and we discuss these topics throughout the episode. Please do what you need to take care of yourself. Somewhere between a coming of age story and a teen romance, Naoko Yamada's A Silent Voice deals with themes as wide-ranging as depression, bullying, and trying to tell a boy that you like him. Join the Motion Picture pals as we discuss the importance of cameras and treating people kindly, and absolutely refuse to refer to the main characters with anything resembling consistency. Discussed: Koe no...2020-03-231h 48

Motion Picture Pals4: Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)We review and discuss Céline Sciamma's gripping "ode to the female [gays]," Portrait of a Lady on Fire because Rebekah saw it three times in theaters in under a week. In our first foray into new releases, we cover portrayals of abortion, woman-to-woman attraction, and what it means for a film to be apatriarchal. Sound design, (lack of a) soundtrack, furtive glances, and the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice also color the discussion. Come for the film analysis, stay for Joel's completely unbelievable stories about his Gender Studies curriculum (and also why science makes you gay).2020-03-161h 31

Motion Picture Pals3: Missing Link (2019)You probably didn't see Missing Link. We know this because it was a box office bomb, despite critical acclaim and several big name actors, including the biggest of all, Huge Jackman. We found plenty to enjoy in the wonder of Missing Link's hand crafted miniature sets and detailed props, plus an action scene with more shots than any previous stop motion film. We share our different interpretations of queerness in the characters, cast a critical eye on the way East Asian people are depicted, and celebrate the virtue of physical comedy with funny sound effects. Also worth...2020-03-041h 35

Motion Picture Pals2: Little Miss Sunshine (2006)That one movie that showed up as album art in iTunes that time you pirated a bunch of Sufjan Stevens songs. Content Warning: this film deals with self-harm and suicide. We discuss both topics throughout the episode, especially after the 1h 5m mark. Please do what you need to take care of yourself. The Motion Picture Pals discuss the 2006 ensemble comedy Little Miss Sunshine, personal growth, the objectification of young girls vis a vis child beauty pageants, and why Travis thinks corpse-based physical comedy is just plain lazy. Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals 2020-02-191h 24

Motion Picture Pals1: Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)We give this Spaghetti Western 5 out of 5 spicy meat-a-balls. Join us for the inaugural episode of Motion Picture Pals, our new movie podcast. Cam, Rebekah, Travis, and Joel discuss Sergio Leone’s epic 1968 western full of beautiful landscapes, fun characters, and fascinating interpretations of violence in the American West. Also, Joel forgets the word “harmonica” despite holding one in his hand. Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Motion Picture Pals is co-hosted by Cam Call, Rebekah Markillie, Joel Aleman, and producer Travis Lien. Join the podcast Discord to get in on the...2020-02-051h 18

Motion Picture PalsStar Wars Rewatch IX: The Rise of SkywalkerLet the final podcast begin. Thanks to all who tuned into our Star Wars journey. We're on Twitter at @MotionPicPals, where we'll let you know when we have a new film to talk about. Until then, may the force be with you. Star Wars Rewatch is co-hosted by William Suitt, Rebekah Markillie, Cam Call, and Travis Lien, who also produces and mixes the show. Follow us on Twitter: @MotionPicPals Join the podcast Discord to get in on the discussions.2019-12-241h 57

Motion Picture PalsStar Wars Rewatch VIII: The Last JediLook, we said a lot of things about this movie. Just so we're upfront. We talked about child soldiers. We talked about arms dealing. At one point a Maz Kanata sex scene was suggested. It's a long podcast episode about a long film. The short version is that we all agreed this was a far better adaptation of Star Wars than The Force Awakens was, just that the movie goes on a bit too long. Ironically we talked for about the length of the film, so if you like that sort of thing you're in luck. At the end o...2019-12-112h 22

Motion Picture PalsStar Wars Rewatch VII: The Force AwakensWe're in unanimous agreement: The Force Awakens was a great event film. We all have fond memories of going to see the first Star Wars film in a decade, and having a blast. Upon revisiting the film at home in our living rooms, something was different though. Without the presence of an engaged audience to watch with us, the emphasis on nostalgia-driven "please clap" moments fell flat. Other big story questions prevented us from feeling immersed in Star Wars. Why don't people remember the jedi? Why do people think Han Solo and Luke Skywalker are myths? And what's the...2019-12-031h 36

Motion Picture PalsStar Wars Rewatch VI: Return of the JediAs we come to the conclusion of the original trilogy, our conversation turns to the force and the evolution of its mythos. With the prequels behind us, we remember the unfortunate way Episodes I - III dig into the mechanics of the force, and discuss what it means to turn to the dark side or remain true to the light. We also look at the way Star Wars plays it safe in terms of story, as well as depictions of violence. How badly did George's desire to sell toys compromise his original vision? Or was selling merchandise his original...2019-11-072h 10

Motion Picture PalsStar Wars Rewatch V: The Empire Strikes BackDarth Vader is considerably less horny and angry than his teenage self by the time we get to The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and that's probably because his dick and balls were burnt off on Mustafar. Episode V continues to expand the world of Star Wars by giving us a peek under Vader's helmet at his scarred, pale flesh. Empire feels like the most outright fantastical of the films, with journeys to different forgotten realms, a wise instructor attuned with the universe, and a mystical cave with a dark secret. We discuss the effectiveness of Luke's many failures in this...2019-10-251h 52

Motion Picture PalsStar Wars Rewatch IV: A New HopeThere was a particular magic to 1977's Star Wars that propelled it to legendary pop culture status. It introduced a rustic spacefaring galaxy of heroes and villains, handcrafted through the innovation of visual effects artists, sound designers, and costume designers, all with limited resources. The craftsmanship that went into creating this fantastical world was so universally beloved that Star Wars won technical awards across the board, and the Library of Congress selected the film in its first year of establishing the National Film Registry, a limited archive of films deemed culturally and historically significant. But the National Film Registry...2019-09-022h 23

Hitpoint PalsIs This Podcast Dead?Episode 30: How can a single player RPG be "dead?" We take a look at the tumultuous evolution of player-developer interaction over time, and the expectation players have grown to have for not just technical patches, but free content updates. A new culture has formed around reworking games that had less than stellar releases a la No Man's Sky, and the way players expect studios to fix bad games they paid for rather than move on to something new. We're calling out backseat developers and pondering over what our expectations should be when we buy a game. Discussed...2019-08-301h 26

Hitpoint PalsLove the Corporate MouseEpisode 29: William and Travis have been enjoying the surprise hit Remnant: From the Ashes, while Rebekah experiences an over the table dilemma in her D&D game. Mount & Blade II finally gets a tantalizing early access date, and megacorporations continue to reign unchecked. Also, thoughts on Life is Strange 2 - Episode 4, and the Popeye's chicken sandwich. Spoilers for Remnant: From the Ashes from 24:48 - 30:02 and Life is Strange 2 - Episode 4 from 30:02 - 34:40. Discussed: Remnant: From the Ashes, Death Stranding, Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, Life is Strange 2 Keep up with the show and send us your...2019-08-251h 18

Hitpoint PalsTime for Guns (pt. 2)Episode 28: Examining the work of Amanda Phillips in Shooting to Kill: Headshots, Twitch Reflexes, and the Mechropolitics of Video Games, the valorization of the headshot from multiplayer lobbies to the esports stage, and the media propaganda that rationalizes police brutality with the narrative of split-second decision making. How does our interpretation of game mechanics color our attitude towards police violence? And with corporate greed allowing hate groups to flourish, how should the gaming community combat its most dangerous groups that celebrate police and white nationalist violence? We also look to the future, asking if motion controls and VR tech...2019-08-1754 min

Hitpoint PalsTime for GunsEpisode 27: The idea that video games are responsible for mass murders is still pushed by political figures and fans of the guns industry. On this episode we take a look at systemic violence in the United States and the intersection between capitalism, hatred, gun control, and yes, video games. If that sounds messy, well, it is. But we know that games are about much more than violence, and can have positive impacts on the world. We touch on the camaraderie and global sportsmanship of esports, the power of comfort games in times of crisis, and the social bonds online...2019-08-1253 min

Motion Picture PalsStar Wars Rewatch III: Revenge of the SithWar! What is it good for? If you're an evil space wizard who also happens to be chancellor of the Galactic Republic, it's a great front for your rise as a fascist dictator and the transformation of your government into a tyrannical empire with absolute authority, backed by the people who have extended their political sympathy and given into fear after you dubbed a group of warrior monks rebels who made an attempt on your life. Yeah, the Jedi really messed up, and Palpatine got away with it all scot-free. Classic. Meanwhile, Padmé really gets the short e...2019-08-042h 28

Hitpoint PalsDesigning a Stealth System That Respects the PlayerEpisode 26: You guys ever heard of Mixer? Forgot about that. Will has been adventuring in what he calls "Stealth Souls," or Sekiro. We break down how effective Sekiro's stealth system is, then reminisce on Thief: The Dark Project's challenging but rewarding stealth mechanics, and wish more games would treat stealth with the depth it deserves. Also, we reflect on mobile, idle tie-in games like Mass Effect Datapad and the Black Flag Companion App. Games discussed: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Kind Words: Lo Fi Chill Beats to Write To, Thief: The Dark Project, Splinter Cell, Dishonored ...2019-08-031h 03

Hitpoint PalsRituals of Play: Finding Meaning in the GameEpisode 25: Going to a Denny's at 3 in the morning is a classic American ritual, an experience shared by many and from which we derive a greater meaning. This week, we're talking about the shared experience of playing games, and the rituals we partake in before and during our gaming sessions and the purpose behind them. Gotta get that bad juju out of the d20 before the game starts, right? We wrap up our discussion on rituals in gaming with an online Discord and Twitch-based church complete with all the sermons, worship songs, and homophobia you'd expect of a traditional...2019-07-271h 21

Hitpoint PalsHome is Where the Gamer Heart IsEpisode 24: Some games we associate with so many positive memories that picking them up again feels like returning home, and there are psychological reasons behind the phenomenon. This week we discuss an article by Polygon's Astrid Johnson, who breaks down why a game like Breath of the Wild can evoke such a reaction. Cam Call joins us on the podcast this week and he's waiting on a card game stuck on a boat because of the new China tariffs. Also, Caleb's final thoughts on Metal Gear, Travis experiences triumph in The Climb, and You Are Jeff Bezos is a...2019-07-201h 12

Hitpoint PalsThe Longest CorgiEpisode 23: Rebekah has released a new and exciting zine called "Brave," and we kick things off by talking about the project and being passionate about independent publications. Then it's on to video game news. The "Den of Thieves" G2A came under fire again Monday when indie developer Mike Rose condemned Google ads directing people to buy his games from the grey market site. "Please, if you’re going to buy a game from G2A, just pirate it instead!" he tweeted. We discuss the fraud-enabling history of G2A, including our own experiences with the third party key ma...2019-07-131h 15

Motion Picture PalsStar Wars Rewatch II: Attack of the ClonesCorruption in the government. A secret clone army. A galaxy on the brink of civil war. And the transformation of the peacekeeping Jedi into warmongers. Sounds like a recipe for a great Star Wars film, right? Well, there are a few reasons why Attack of the Clones isn't regarded very highly among critics or fans alike. Like Lucas's portrayal of a one-sided, rebuffed romance magically blossoming to life in the end, for starters. But a strong anti-war sentiment, interesting genre intersections, and new achievements in digital cinema mean there's plenty to discuss about the themes and context of Episode...2019-07-082h 00

Hitpoint PalsWow, Cool SwordEpisode 22: We recorded this episode a few minutes after an earthquake shook Vegas, so Travis is on edge. But we dive right into The Outer Worlds co-director Leonard Boyarski's statement that the game will be "political," but not "politically-charged" and the misguided pandering developers often practice to reassure sensitive fans the game is worth buying. We also look at how The Last of Us handles complex moral issues, and how the developers of Mordhau are trying to find a great way to appease their racist community. Finally, we make mid-year reflections on 2019's best games, from The Outer Wilds t...2019-07-061h 29

Hitpoint PalsGaming in a World on FireEpisode 21: Marianne Williamson is channeling powerful crystal energy. Beto o'Rourke wants to make sure you know he can speak Spanish. And the planet is rapidly advancing towards irreparable destruction. Meanwhile, we discuss an article about climate change from a gaming perspective, where beautiful digital recreations of nature are overshadowed by the dark reality that global warming is destroying the world we inhabit in real life, and 4K gaming and Stadia data centers will only heat us up more! After getting that existential crisis out of the way, we all weigh in on what games Bernie Sanders should stream on...2019-06-291h 18

Motion Picture PalsStar Wars Rewatch I: The Phantom MenaceWelcome to Star Wars Rewatch, where the Hitpoint Pals crew are meeting once a month to revisit the Star Wars films and re-contextualize them against the current pop culture climate. This month we're kicking things off with The Phantom Menace, the first film in the prequel trilogy and a follow up to 1983’s Return of the Jedi. The Phantom Menace premiered to a lukewarm reception, failing to live up to the expectations fans accrued over a 16 year period of no Star Wars, while at the same time making great technical strides with groundbreaking visual effects, and its financial success set...2019-06-131h 46